Reference no: EM133245104

Section 1

The challenge of this experiment is for you to live for 3 consecutive days as if you were impoverished. While this in no way truly replicates the full impact of a life of poverty that people actually live out, it may if you truly invest in the experience, give you a small glimpse into the impact of poverty. This experience is to occur within the context of your daily life, for at least 3 days. These rules are meant to give you a poverty experience. reference properly and cite any outside sources APA 7th edition

The Experiment Rules are

• Do not spend more than $10.00 per day. This is for everything, including food, drink, laundry, personal supplies, recreation, and living expenses. You will need to consider what you eat and what it would cost at the grocery store and then deduct this cost from your budget. For example, if you eat 25% of a bag of chips that cost $4 at the store, then you would deduct $1 from your Daily Budget. Water from the sink tap is free.
• Required medication or medical services is not limited by this budget.  Never put your health or safety at risk!
• You are allowed to drive your vehicle 10 miles a day for free, but every mile past 10 costs $2 a mile from your budget. Public transportation fees should be taken from your budget. Walking is free. Bicycle use costs $1 a day.
• You are only allowed limited use of cell phones. You can talk on a cell phone for free up to 1 hour a day. Additional time can be purchased from your budget at a cost of $5 per extra 01-60 minutes. You can make 10 free texts a day. Beyond that, it is 5 cents per text.
• No cheating by relying on friends or family to pay for you. You are allowed to ask for an additional $2 a day from friends and family.
• No hoarding (saving up from day to day during the experiment).
• Every use of email, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, instant messaging, etc. for personal use costs 25 cents each 01-60 seconds. You are allowed to use a public computer such as one at the library if you want access to your email or social media accounts. Educational and work use of computers/tablets is exempt from this experiment.
• You are only allowed one set of clothing to wear for these 3 days. Those in poverty don't have a huge selection of clothes, so you shouldn't either. You are only allowed 1 towel and washcloth for the entire 3 days.
• You are allowed limited hygiene. You can shower once a day but can only use 30 seconds of hot water. The rest must be cold. You are allowed a brush or comb, but no hair products such as a mouse, styling gel, hairspray, etc.
• Regarding Utilities: every time you wish to use water or electricity in your home, flip a coin. If it lands Heads up, then you must wait an hour and try again. This represents that many impoverished people live in areas with no or unreliable utilities.  This includes flushing the toilet and drinking from the tap.
• If you wear glasses or contacts, you must pay $1 a day for their use.
• Do not jeopardize your health for any reason! If any of these rules causes you harm, cease them immediately
• Apply and communicate an understanding of the importance of diversity and difference in shaping life experiences in practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.
• Present self as a learner and engage clients and constituencies as experts of their own experiences.
• Apply self-awareness and self-regulation to manage the influence of personal bias and values in working with diverse clients and constituencies.

Discuss each question in detail!

1. What were your expectations going into this experience?

2. Discuss the inconvenience and uncomfortableness of this experience.

3. Did you experience life from the perspective of someone "poor?" Discuss this.

4. Compare your situation to someone who is actually impoverished.

5. On what did you spend your money? 

6. Did you spend it wisely?

7. Talk about the reaction of others and the impact it had on you.